Boring machine



April 24, 1956 A. MERMIS BORING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 27, 1952 Alfred Mermis INVENTOR.

April 24, 1956 A. MERMIS BORING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1952 Alfred Mermis INVENTOR.

A. MERMIS BORING MACHINE April 24, 1956 Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll. m R. m D 1 w m 0 M mi A m\ 9% m m Jl mm mm mm r N mm? i vm NQ m 1 8 Hi Ii J} W W a: a Q m Em 34 m} mm 2: \Su M Y B NS 3 8 EV mw .0 t m9 6 Q3 vm mm mm Q Q R wk 3 3w wm wv United States Patent BORING MACHINE Alfred Mermis, Artesia, N. Mex. Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,245v

8 Claims. Cl. 255-22 This invention relates in general to drilling machines,

and more particularly to drilling machines which are adapted for the drilling of horizontal holes in the earth under streets and embankments, railroads, and the like to accommodate the laying therein of conduits for fluids, electric cables and the like.

' The primary object of this invention is to provide a horizontal boring machine which may be easily transported and will effectively bore holes in theground under streets and the like with the use of a minimum of labor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved horizontal boring machine which utilizes conventional drill equipment of an inexpensive type which is formed in sections whereby the machine may be placed closely adjacent the bore hole and additional sections of drill rod may be quickly inserted in the string of drill tool's.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved boring machine which is formed of conventional equipment including primarily conventional auto parts and readily obtainable structural elements whereby it may be economically manufactured.

- Another object of this invention is to provide an improved horizontal boring machine for boring holes horizontally beneath the surface of the ground whereby the digging of open trenches is avoided and the consequent inconvenience of traffic passing over roads and railroads is eliminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved boring machine having first driven means for rotating drill rods and second driven means'for moving said drill rod axially through the machine and into a bore hole, said first and second driven means being selectively operated and driven at different speeds.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended-claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved horizontal boring machine, which is the subject of this invention, the central portions of the drill rod extending beyond the main mechanism of the boring machine being omitted;

' Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the boring machine of Figure 1 and showing the general relationship of the various elements thereof; 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sectionline 33 of Figure 2 and showing the details of drums mounted at the rear end of the boring machine;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing the means connecting the drive means of the boring machine to first and second driven means;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the boring machine of Figure 1, only the power source and I porting a drill rod by the boring machine;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the forward end of the boring machine taken along section line 7--7 of Figure 2 and shows the manner in which a gasoline engine is mounted on the frame of the boring machine; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 88 of Figure l and showing 'the coupling and support means at the forward end of the drill rod. v

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawings. Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the specific drive means of the boring machine. The drive means of the boring machine includes a'conventional internal combustion engine 10 mounted at the forward end of the boring machine and having a rearwardly extending drive shaft 12 connected to a clutch 14. Extending between the clutch 14 and a first transmission 16 is a drive shaft 18. Disposed rearwardly of the first transmission 16 is a second transmission 20 which has a forwardly extending shaft 22 connected to a rearwardly extending shaft 24 of the transmission 16 by universal coupling 26. Extending from the second'transmission 2i is a drive shaft 28.

As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the drive shaft 28 is provided with a drive sprocket 30 on the rear end thereof for transmitting power to the various portions of the boring machine. Disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the drive sprocket 30- is a driven sprocket 32 which is operatively connected to a drill rod section 34 in a manner which will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Entrained over the drive sprocket 30 and the drivensprocket 32 is a drive chain 36 connecting the two sprockets together. Disposed below and in offset relation to the drive shaft 28 is a drivenshaft 44 on which is secured a driven sprocket 42. The sprocket 42 is in alignment with a drive sprocket 38 carried by the shaft 24 and is. connected to the same by a drive chain 40. Referring again to Figure 5, it will be seen that the shaft 44 has connected to the forward end thereof a clutch 46 which is in turn connected to a shaft 48. Mounted on the shaft 48 is a sprocket 50 in alignment with a sprocket 52 mounted on a shaft 54. The shaft 54 is located centrally of the boring machine and is driven by a drive chain 55 entrained over the sprockets 50 and 52.

The forward end of the shaft 54 is connected to a transmission 56 which is in turn connected to a clutch 58-. The clutch 58 selectively engages the transmission 56 with a gear housing 66 carried at the forward end thereof. The rear end of the shaft 54 is connected to a transmission 62, which is similar to the transmission 56, and is connected to a clutch 64. Disposed at the rear of the boring machine is a gear housing 66 identical with the gear housing 66 and having a shaft 68 extending forwardly therefrom. Extending between and connected to the clutch 64 and the shaft 68 is a drive shaft 70. The drive shaft 70 is connected to the clutch 64 and the shaft 68 by universal couplings '72 and 74, respectively.

Referring now to Figures2 and 3 in particular, it will be seen that the boringmachine has its mechanism mount ed upon a generally rectangular frame formed of tubular elements andv including a pair of longitudinally extending base members 76 which underlie similar longitudinally extending top frame members 78. The ends of the top frame members 78 are connected to the. ends of the base members 76 by vertically extending front and rear supports 80 and 82, respectively. The ends of the base members 76 are connected together by bottom transverse frame members 83 and the ends of the top frame members 78 are connected together by top transverse frame members 84. The frame is further braced by a pair of vertically extending supports 86 extending between the base members 76 and the top frame members 73 on each side of the frame. Extending between the base members 76 and the top frame members 78 in transverse alignment with the ends of the vertical supports 86 are inter-' mediate transverse frame members 88 and 99, respectively.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it will be seen that mounted on the upper portion of the frame and connected to the longitudinally extending top frame members 78 is a transversely extending motor support 92 which is generally channel shaped in cross section. The internal combustion engine is supported upon the motor support 92 by a pair of angle mounting brackets 94. It will be noted that the internal combustion engine 10 has a starter belt pulley 96 at the forward end thereof.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the transmission 16 is secured to the frame of the boring machine by a transversely extending mounting plate 98 which is secured to the top frame members 78. The rear end of the transmission 16 is supported by a pair of upwardly converging braces 100 also carried by the longitudinally extending top frame members 78. The transmission is supported in a manner identical to the support of the transmission 16 and includes a transversely extending support plate 102 and a pair of upwardly converging braces 104. The major portion of the drive mechanism is covered by a hood 106 which is primarily supported by standards 108 carried by the top frame members 78.

The rear end of the shaft 44 is supported by ajournal 110 carried by an adjacent standard 108, which is positioned adjacent the sprocket 42.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the transmissions 56 and 62 are disposed Within the general frame of the boring machine and are supported by transversely extending plates 118 and 120, re spectively, which extend between the vertical supports 86 and are secured thereto.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that the gear housing 60 mounted at the forward end of the boring machine has transversely extending shafts 122 extending outwardly therefrom and driven by gear means (notv shown) disposed within the gear housing. Mounted on each of the shafts 122 is a drum 124 having cables 126 reeled thereon. The cables 126 extend forwardly of the boring machine and are connected at their ends to cars 128 of a collar 139 carried by the forward end of the forward drill rod section 132.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that the forward end of the forward drill rod section 132 has a pair of spaced annular shoulders 134 between which is located the collar 130, the collar 13% being free to rotate on the forward end of the drill rod 132 which is rounded. The forward end of the forward drill rod 132 is provided with aninternally threaded bore 136 in which is threadedly engaged the threaded end portion 138 of a cylindrical drill tool 140. The cylindrical, drill tool 140 is provided at its forward end with cutting teeth 142, the teeth being best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The gear housing 66 disposed at the rear end of the frame of the boring machine is provided with transversely extending shafts 144 which have drums 146 mounted thereon, the transverse shafts 144 being driven by gear means (not shown) mounted within the gear housing 66.v

Carried by the drums 146 are cables 148 which extend rearwardly' from the boring machine and are connected 4 to ears 150 of a collar 152 mounted between two annular flanges on the rear end of the rear drill rod 154.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that carried by the forward vertical supports 80 are a pair of vertically extending U-shaped brackets 156 which have rollers 158 rotatably mounted between the flanges thereof. The rollers 158 are disposed in alignment with the drums 124 and receive the cables 126 for guiding the same. It will be understood that the rollers 158 are substantially in the plane of the drill rod sections so that the cables 126 exert a horizontal force only on the forward end of the forward drill section 132. Carried by the rear vertical supports 82 are a similar pair of U-shaped brackets 160 which have rotatably mounted between their flanges rollers 162 over which the cables 148 pass.

In order that the drill rod sections may be suitably supported, extending between the forward vertical supports 80 and secured thereto are a pair of spaced parallel vertically extending plates 164. The plates have mounted therein a housing 166 containing bearing means with a square opening in its inner race for rotatably supporting the drill rod sections and at the same time permitting longitudinal sliding of the drill rod sections therethrough.

As is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the base frame members 76 have extending upwardly therefrom vertical supports 168 adjacent the rear vertical supports 82. It will be noted that the vertical supports 168 only extend partially the height of the frame and have extending therebetween and supported thereby a pair of spaced parallel transverse plates 170. Carried by the transverse plates 170 for rotation with respect thereto is the gear 32 which has a square opening therethrough in which is received the drill rod section 34 for driving the same while per mitting the drill rod to slide longitudinally therethrough. It will be noted that the rear of the frame is braced by a transversely extending plate 172 extending between and secured to the rear vertical supports 82.

It will be understood that the complete drill rod includes a front drill rod section 132 and a rear drill rod section 154 which are coupled together with intermediate drill rod sections 34. The drill rod sections are connected together by tongue and groove joints including transverse pins 174, as is best illustrated in Figure 6.

In the normal drilling operation the forward drill rod section 132 is supported by the cylindrical drilling tool 140 which is in turn supported by the ground through which it is boring. The intermediate drill rod sections 34 are supported by the bearings 166 and the gear '32. However, the rear drill rod section 154 extends rearwardly of the boring machine and requires a satisfactory support therefor. In order that the rear drill rod section 154 may be suitably supported, a runner 176 for engaging the ground is provided. The runner 176 has an intermediate vertical standard 178 whose upper end is provided with a housing 180 in which are disposed hearing means, best illustrated in Figure 3. As the drill rod sections move longitudinally the housing 180 and its associated runner 176 moves forwardly with the rear end of the drill rod section 154. V

In a normal drilling operation the drill rod sections are rotated. by the gear 32 simultaneous with the longitudinal movement of same into the earth being bored. Longitudinal movement of the drill rod is accomplished by rotating thesdrums 146 by engaging the clutch 64. This results in the cable 148 being reeled upon the drums 146 and associated movement of the rear end of the rear drill rod section 154 towards the boring machine. When the drums 146 are being rotated, the drums 124 are disengaged from the shaft 154 through the action of the clutch 58 so that the cables 126 reeled thereon are free to pay out. When it is desired to withdraw the drill rod and its associated cylindrical drilling tool 140 from the hole being bored, the clutch 64 is disengaged and the clutch 58 is engaged whereby the cable 126 is reeled in and the cable 148 is payed out.

It should be noted that the drive means for the various portions of the boring machine are such that the drill rods may be rotated at a much greater rate than the rotation of the drums for moving the drill rods in and out of the hole being bored. Also, it will be understood that the drill rod may be rotated without being moved longitudinally through the machine if both the clutch 58 and the clutch 64 are disengaged. If it is desired, the drums 124 and 146 may be operated independently of the drilling tool 140 by disengaging the transmission 20.

In operation, the cylindrical drilling tool 140 is urged horizontally through the earth while it is being rotated. After the drilling tool 140 has progressed into the earth to the point that the same is filled with earth it is removed from the hole being drilled and disconnected from the drill rod 132. After the earth has been removed from the drilling tool 140, the same is reconnected to the drill rod 132 and the operation repeated until the hole is of the desired depth.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new l. A boring machine comprising a fixed frame, a unitary power source, drive means driven by said power source, a horizontally disposed drill rod supported on said frame for both rotary and axial movement thereto, first rotatable driven means fixed relative to said frame connecting said drive means to said drill rod for rotating said drill rod, second driven means including power driven rotatable drums rotatably mounted on opposite ends of said frame, flexible force transmitting means carried by said drums for being respectively connected to opposite ends of said drill rod for moving said drill rod forwardly and rearwardly through said frame.

2. A boring machine as set forth in claim 1 including speed reduction means between said drive means and said first and second driven means, said speed reduction means permitting said first driven means to be driven at a greater rate of speed than said second driven means.

3. A boring machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drill rod includes a polygonal cross section, and in which said first driven means includes a driven sprocket having a polygonal bore conforming to the cross section of said drill rod and slidably receiving said drill rod therethrough.

4. A boring machine comprising a stationary frame, a unitary power source, drive means driven by said power source, a horizontally disposed drill rod supported on said frame for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto, first rotatable driven means fixed relative to said frame connecting said drive means to said drill rod for alfording rotary movement thereto, second driven means connected to said first drive means for moving said power driven rotary drums, flexible force transmitting means carried by said drums connected to a forward and rearward end of said drill rod which extends out of said frame for urging said drill rod axially through said frame and into and out of a hole being bored.

5. A boring machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second drum means includes a pair of drums mounted at the rear of said frame, flexible cables carried by said drums connected to rear ends of said drill rod for urging said drill rod axially of said boring machine into a hole being bored, and a second pair of drums carried on a forward portion of said rod including cables carried by said second drums connected to a forward end of said drill rod for retracting said drill rod from a hole being bored.

6. A horizontal boring machine comprising a rigid frame, unitary power means mounted on said frame and operably connected to said drive means, horizontally disposed drill rod sections supported in bearings carried by said frame for permitting both rotary and axial movement therethrough, first driven means carried by said frame and relatively fixed thereto, said first driven means being operatively connected to said drive means, a rotary drive connection between said first driven means and said drill rod, second driven means carried by said frame in a relatively fixed position thereon, a drive connection between said drive means and said drill rod for moving said drill rod axially through its associated bearings, said second driven means including rotatable drums carried by the frame on horizontal axles at the front and rear thereof, and flexible force transmitting means carried by said drums respectively connected to the front and rear ends of said drill rod for urging said drill rod axially forwardly and rearwardly through the frame.

7. A horizontal boring machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the drill rod includes the collar rotatably mounted on the front and rear ends thereof, said flexible force transmitting means being connected to said collars for permitting said drill rod to have free rotary movement while being urged axially forwardly and rearwardly through said frame.

8. A boring machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable drums are mounted on opposite ends of said frame, each of said drums having a force transmitting cable mounted thereon and operatively connected to the collars on said drill rod, and clutch and reversible transmission means operatively associated between said second driven shaft and said rotatable drums for selectively driving said pairs of drums for attaining forward and rearward axial movement of said drill rod through said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,438 Knorr Aug. 27, 1929 1,903,648 Holmes Apr. 11, 1933 2,165,666 Tilly July 11, 1939 2,196,260 Gatto Apr. 9, 1940 2,625,376 Smith Jan. 13, 1953 

